TENNIS UMPIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 307, 28 December 1935, Page 3 (Supplement)

TENNIS UMPIRES.

OFFICIALS AND THE RULES.

Their Duties in Relation to the Players and

the Public.

(By HALF-VOLLEY.)

In the following article a player of many years* active experience in official as well as playing service deals with the various duties of the officials required in tournament tennis matches, giving hints as to those duties, and stating the requirements of the rules in controlling match play. The article should be interesting and helpful to players as well as to officials.

The Referee.

Official Entrusted with Wide

Managerial Powers

I propose to deal with the umpire and his duties; or perhaps I should first refer briefly to that important official—the referee. No major tournament>should be conducted without appointing a referee, who should be. ex-officio, a member of the committee. His name should appear on the entry form issued by the committee, which form sets out the conditions of play in the competition. He must be oible to decide quickly and take full responsibility far his actions and above all he must be impartial. He must be present at all times when play is in progress or appoint a substitute. He cannot umpire a match unless he appoints a substitute referee. He has the,power to assign courts and start matches. He has the power to appoint umpires, linesmen, footfault judges and net umpires. Likewise, he has the power to remove any of these officials should he deem it necessary. He may even remove any of them upon the appeal of a competitor during his match, but the referee in such a case must make certain that such protest is well founded. He should not act merely on the player's appeal. He has the sole power to excuse a competitor from playin"- for a definite period. In an unfinished match, where the contestants agree to a replay the final decision rests entirely with the referee. I shall have something more to say on this point when dealing at a later date with Rule 27.

He may in liis discretion postpone a match on account of darkness, the weather or the condition of the ground. He may default a competitor who has not been excused, and who is not ready to play when called upon. The referee is the sole judge as to whether the courts are fit for play or not; also, as to whether spikes may be used. The referee shall decide any point of law which an umpire may profess himself unable to decide, or which may be referred to him on appeal from the decision of an umpire. His decision shall be final. These, then, are the functions of the referee. I should explain, however, that iu this country the referee as we know him seldom assumes these duties. It is true that one is appointed, but he is there purely for the purposes of settlingdisputes (if any) and to give decision on points of law if appealed to. In England and on the Continent, the referee is a paid official who controls the entire running of the tournament, thus combining the work of the match committee and the referee, as we have it in this country and also in Australia. The Umpire and His Duties. Like the referee, an umpire must be thoroughly conversant with the rules and capable of applying same without hesitation. In championship matches an umpire is usually notified of his appointment lit advance. He should therefore be on hand and ready when>his match is called. An umpire must not bet on a match. The duties of an umpire may be classified under two headings':—(l) His duties before he takes the chair. (2) His duties during the progress of the match.

Prior to the commencement of a match the score card should be entered up as far as possible. Make sure it is known how to pronounce correctly the names of the competitors. A player is naturally annoyed When an umpire, shouts his name incorrectly before a, large gallery. At the call of the referee, he goes directly 'to the court with 'the # players, measures the net at the posts and the centre with a measuring stick. provided for the purpose. The net should reach to the ground and extend flush with the posts. (Rule 1.) He has the players toss for choice of court and service: He next completes the score card by writing the appropriate initials opposite each game; he sees that a full complement of linesmen, etc.. are in their respective positions. When the players indicate their readiness to begin play the umpire introduces them in this way: "The final of the Xew Zealand singles championship between E. D. Andrews and A. C. Stedmail. The match is the best of five advantage sets. E. D; Andrews will serve."- Ho always names the player who is to serve first. It is .customary to call the name of the higher ranking player fust. The umpire must keep his eyes on the ball in play, and rivet his attention on the correct calling of the score and the proper conduct of the match. Attention to outside distractions is fatal to good umpiring. He has to remember that he is the connecting link between the match and the gallery.

When a point is finished he first marks the score card; then raises his head and calls the score loudly and distinctly. If lie delays marking the score he will most assuredly make an error sooner or later, especially after a long rally. He calls the score of the server first in calling points; calls "advantage" fry saying '•'Advantage server," or "receiver." He should never use the word "striker."

He dallfl names thus:—"Game won by AnctfeMfS-j games are 4-—2, Rtedman leads in the first set." And sets in tkia manner:—"Gaine and third set to Andrews, 7—5; Andrews leads by two pets to one." General Advice to Umpires. After the first set, it is a good plan to announce the set score after every two or three games. If you should happen to call, the score incorrectly, don't get Hurried; merely announce the score correctly. Repeat every decision of a linesman or footfault judge so that

until the applause subsides, before calling the score, but never make a call while the ball is in play, or when a player is beginning to serve. Don't let the gallery disturb the players; should this occur, stop play, and politely appeal for the co-operation of the spectators. Direct the players to change courts at the end of the odd game in each set, should this be necessary. (Rule 24.)

Watch the play carefully for any infraction of the rules or any outside disturbance of the match not within the players' control. Make your decision immediately, and stick to it. If appealed to during the play as to whether a ball was in or out of court, keep silent until the point has been completed. The fact that no call, has been made should indicate to the player that the ball was good. Never say "play on" during a rally, as this may tend to confuse the players. A player should play cm until a ball is netted or called "out."

Where the ton minute intermission is allowed (after the second set for ladled, and the third set for men) announce this 'fact to the spectators. Then mark down the time at which the set is finished. Also note the name of the first server in the next set, and the court he shall occupy. You may then leave the court, but watch the time, and notify the players two or three minutes before the rest period has expired. You mav suspend play for such period'as you* deem necessary on account of any circumstances not within the control of the players, but watch carefully for intentional "stalling" and deal with it firmly. (Rule 28.) Remember, also, you have the right at any time to postpone the match on account of the condition of the light, ground, or. weather, but such postponement is subject to the approval of the referee. In the case of any intermission or postponement, note the point, game, and set score, and also the name of the server, together with the court he occupies. Upon the completion of the match, announce the final score, sign the score card and return it to the proper quarter. Duties of Linesmen. The full complement of linesmen is 1G for a doubles match or 12 for a singles match, distributed as follows: — One on each outside line, one on each "service sideline, and one on the cenire service line. This makes five; but as these linesmen account for their lines only as far as the net, this number has to be doubled. Thus we have now ten. Add two baselinesmen, two service linesmen, a footfault judge and a net umpire and the total is now IC.

Sometimes one linesman tr.kes both the service sideline and outsid:; line in a doubles match, in which case the number Is reduced by four.

While most line decisions are simple the occasional close one, coming generally at an unexpected moment, tests a linesman's vision and alertness to the utmost and on his ability to see such strokes correctly depends largely the successful conduct of any match. Mistakes in lining are always annoying and often costly to one or other of the players. It cannot be too strongly emphasised that the selection and training of accurate linesmen is the greatest problem of the Tennis Umpires' Association and the following instructions should be thoroughly learned: A linesman is appointed by the referee or umpires committee and may be removed by either.

He must not bet on any match to which he has been assigned. He should report on time and when his match is called go to the court and take his position immediately. Once seated he must not leave without permission from the umpire or until another linesman has been put in his place. He may, of course, leave the court during the regulation ten-minute intermission, but he should keep track of the time and be back in position when the players return to the court.

During play he must not smoke or move about, but sit as quietly as possible. Any movement is very r.nnoying to the players. If a linesman sees he is going to interfere with a stroke, he should make every reasonable effort to get out of the player's way, but in so doing he should make as little movement a* possible. He should not catch a- ball going out of court or retrieve balls for the players. Let the ball boys do it. If there are none, it is better that the players make the effort themselves. Need for Concentration. " The keen linesman is the best linesman. Nine times out of ten his decisions are comparatively simple. Jt is the tenth decision that is difficult and tests his alertness and ability. The linesman should maintain an attitude of alertness and interest and avoid any appearance of indifference. Outside distractions are fatal to good lining. Conversation with a spectator or attention to anything not connected with the match will frequently cause a linesman to make a bad decision or to miss it altogether. Base linesmen should not talk to the foot fault judge.

"Eyes on the ball in play" is his watchword. There is just one exception to this. Most linesmen judging the service lines have difficulty with fast services. Their eyes are not quick enough to follow accurately a fast ball crossing their line of vision. .Such men should watch the server just before lie hits the ball, then instantly glue their eyes on die service line. Some men do not have to do this and prefer to watch the flight of the ball.

Tiie linesman should remember thai "a ball falling on a line i~ regarded as falling in the court bounded by that line.''' (Rule IS.)

The call of the linesmen should be sharp and loud, ft is necessary that th, ] umpire and the gallery hear his decision. Where applause makes his call unheard ho should signal out with a motion of

The only calls for a linesman I aru "Out" or '"•Fault." He must never call "Good." Neither the players norjptho. umpire have the right to decision while the ball is in playDecisions should be called as .quickly as is consistent with accuracy, but:lines. men who call all decisions very quickly are apt to err occasionally. On very close decisions a fraction of a second'.-* hesitation (to make sure that the mental picture is correct) is advised. A linesman must change his decision whenever, through voicing it wrongly)oi' giving it too quickly, he has knowingly made an error. If he has called a>ball "out," realising immediately thatdtfjwas good, he should instantly tell the umpirt) of his mistake. The umpire then decodes whether or not the stroke shalljbeV'c> played.

Should the umpire call the .scoreiai; variance with the linesman's decision, the latter should immediately ,call<fthi< umpire's attention to the error. Under no circumstances may a»player, umpire or referee overrule the decision, of a linesman on a question of fact. He should make his decision as het.Gecs the ball, and stick to it. :

If the player obstructs the, linesman'* view of the ball or the line, the'latter should immediately raise an arm straight, above his head as a the umpire that he cannot see the,play. TJie umpire then makes the decisionJor shall order the stroke replayed."':